photo by steed media service
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It’s
hard to label O.J. Mayo a rookie. Although the 21-year-old guard for
the Memphis Grizzles has just one month of NBA experience, he is no
stranger to the big stage or national spotlight. Before Mayo’s
17th birthday, his sensational skills on the basketball court earned
him features in national publications such as Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, Slam
and a segment on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines.” However,
the hype that he received in the past became meaningless after he was
chosen third out of USC in the 2008 NBA Draft. Shortly after his first
game in the NBA, he realized that he was in a new territory and that he
would have to prove that he could compete against the best players in
the world.
“This being my rookie
season, every night [there is] something new to learn,” Mayo
says. “I see new things on the court that I didn’t see last
year [at USC].” Mayo missed 15 shots and only scored 10 points in
his first NBA game against the Houston Rockets. But he quickly regained
his touch and finished the month of November as the top-scoring rookie
in the NBA with an average of 21.3 per game. Mayo was named Rookie of
the Month.
The Huntington, W.Va., native was proud of the honor, but his overall
goal is to change the perception of the Grizzlies. “Winning
Rookie of the Month was a good individual award, but I don’t play
the game for individual awards,” he admits. “I want to be
able to help this team clinch a playoff berth and get us to the point
where we possibly could win a championship.”
A playoff or championship berth in the 2008-09 season seems highly
unlikely for the franchise that’s had only three winning seasons
in its 14-year history. But as Mayo and his young teammates mature, he
will be looked upon to lead the team to a place that it has never been
before. “My main thing is to play hard every night and stay
focused on becoming a better player on the court,” he says.
“Off the court, I just want to stay down with the people I am
close with and remain humble.” –amir shaw
